Rarity, having ascended to being a top designer, had been invited to contribute to a major fashion show taking place in Manehattan. Gleefully accepting, she sent invites to the show to her friends. Twilight, Starlight and Spike were all going, while Flash and Dusk (neither one having a taste for fashion) had opted to stay in Ponyville.
On the morning of the show, Twilight, Spike and Starlight were getting ready to depart for the train station.
"We'll be back by this evening." Twilight declared.
"I'm missing you already." Flash kissed his wife.
"Me too." Twilight chuckled.
"Bye, squirt." Dusk told Starlight. "Enjoy the... fashion show."
"Pretty dresses, yay!" Starlight cheered.
"Come on, girls!" Spike yelled, eager as always to see Rarity. "We don't want to miss the train!"
"Coming, Spike." Twilight rolled her eyes. "Have fun, my two favorite guys."
"Oh, we will." Flash smiled. "I've got the entire day planned out. It'll be chock full of father-son activities. It's gonna be great. Right, champ?"
"You bet, dad!" Dusk cheered.
"See you tonight." Twilight departed through the open door.
"Bye!" Starlight waved as she followed her mother.
Once Twilight, Spike and Starlight left, it was just Flash and Dusk.
"Whattaya say, sport?" Flash smiled. "Quick hoofball game before lunch?"
"Why not?" Dusk smiled. "First to five goals wins. Loser makes the sandwiches!"
"Ooh, you're gonna regret that, kiddo!" Flash teased.
As it turned out, Flash was the one in regret, as Dusk scored five goals before he'd even scored three.
"Beaten by my own son." He mock-despaired. "Oh, the shame!"
"Sandwiches are on you, pop!" Dusk smirked.
The boys went back into the library and into the kitchen, where Flash made his signature cheese and chive salad sandwiches.
"Mm-mmm, good!" Dusk said through a mouthful.
"Yeah, nothing beats one of my C-and-C's." Flash said proudly.
After lunch, they went outside again.
"What are we gonna do now, dad?" Dusk asked.
"An old pegasus pasttime." Flash declared. "We're going skygazing."
"Skygazing?" Dusk repeated. "What's that?"
"You'll see." Flash chuckled.
Opening his wings, Flash flew up to a nearby cloud, beckoning Dusk to follow. They both lay on their backs, looking at the sky.
"Now what?" Dusk asked.
"Now, we just look at the sky." Flash smiled.
"That's it?" Dusk asked. "Seems kinda boring..."
"There's more to it then that, kiddo." Flash sighed. "You can feel the wind and sun on your face, hear the birds as they fly by... Just try it."
Reluctantly, Dusk lay back on the cloud. The warm sunlight did feel good, as did the cooling wind. A flock of geese flew close by, honking softly.
"Well?" Flash asked.
"Okay, this isn't so bad." Dusk admitted. "But there's still not much to do up here."
"Oh, yeah?" Flash smirked. "Check out that cloud over there. It looks just like a carriage."
"Huh, I guess it does." Dusk squinted. "And that one over there looks like Purple's mom... if her mane weren't so puffy."
They both chuckled lightly.
"Why do some clouds look likeother things, dad?" Dusk asked.
"I guess the weather patrol has some very artistic ponies in the cloud-making position." Flash shrugged.
"Guess so." Dusk nodded.
"I used to do this with your grandpa Bold all the time when I was your age." Flash reminisced. "Ah, to be a colt again..."
The two sat on the cloud for a while, staring at the blue sky.
"Hey, dad?" Dusk said finally.
"Yeah, kiddo?" Flash asked.
"You used to be a royal guardspony, right?" Dusk inquired.
"Yep." Flash nodded. "Before I married your mom. 'Course, I had to turn in my armor after that. A prince can't be a guard, you know?"
"Did you like being a guardspony?" Dusk asked.
"I loved it." Flash admitted. "It was what I'd dreamed of being ever since I was a colt."
"Wasn't it hard, giving it up like that?" Dusk asked.
"A little, yeah." Flash admitted. "I did love being a guardspony, but I loved your mom more. And when you really love somepony, you'll sacrifice anything to be with them."
"Whoa." Dusk said in quiet admiration.
"I love your mom more then anything." Flash smiled. "And I love you and your sister just as much. When I compare my life then to my life now, it's no contest. I'd choose you guys every time."
"Really?" Dusk gasped.
"Really." Flash hugged Dusk tightly. "I love you, son."
"I love you too, dad." Dusk beamed.
As they parted, Dusk noticed a mischievous smile on his father's face.
"You know, I didn't bring you up here just to skygaze." Flash declared.
"Oh, really?" Dusk grinned. "What else are we here for?"
Dusk got a puff of cloud in the face.
"Cloudball fight!" Flash chuckled.
"No fair!" Dusk giggled. "I wasn't ready!"
Using his magic, Dusk made three cloudballs at once, and fired them at his father like bullets.
"Hey!" Flash shielded himself with his wings. "That's cheating!"
"Show me the page in the rulebook that says that!" Dusk shot back playfully.
"I got your rulebook right here!" Flash tossed a cloudball in the air, then batted it over with his wing. It got Dusk in the side.
"Nice one!" Dusk applauded.
As the sun began to set, the two returned home for dinner. Just as they were about to eat, Twilight, Spike and Starlight returned.
"Hey, boys." Twilight smiled. "We're back!"
"Daddy!" Starlight rushed over. "Dusk!"
"Hey, sweetie." Flash hugged his daughter.
"Welcome back, squirt." Dusk joined the hug.
"Where's my hug?" Twilight chuckled, adding her own hooves to the embrace.
"Don't forget me!" Spike squeezed in.
"So, how was the fashion show?" Flash asked.
"It was pretty good." Twilight declared. "Rarity had some really good designs."
"Pretty dresses!" Starlight squealed.
"Not as pretty as Rarity..." Spike sighed.
"So, how were things on the home front?" Twilight asked.
"Awesome!" Dusk yelled. "Dad and I had so much fun today!"
"Good to hear, honey." Twilight chuckled, before turning back to Flash. "I hope you boys didn't miss me too much."
"I always miss you like crazy." Flash gave his wife a kiss, which she gladly returned.
Normally, Dusk would have grimaced at the sight of his parents making out. But he'd learned earlier today had given him a new perspective on the matter. His father's love for his mother was so great, he was willing to give up his lifelong dream for her. Dusk wondered if he would one day be called upon to do the same, and if he would have the strength to make the right choice.
His parents noticed him staring.
"Is something wrong, Dusk?" Twilight asked.
"No." Dusk shook his head. "I'm just... really glad you're my parents."
Dusk hugged them both.
"And we're glad you're our son, kiddo." Flash beamed.
"We couldn't have asked for a better colt." Twilight agreed.
"Thanks, guys." Dusk smiled.
"Now, how about some dinner?" Flash asked. "I made my famous C and C sandwiches!"
"That sounds great." Twilight nodded.
"Yummy!" Starlight licked her lips.
The family went into the kitchen, and enjoyed their meal together. As much as he loved having his mother and sister back, Dusk hoped the next father-son day wasn't going to be too far off.